Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog: Connecticut: Ellington

Easy Apple Recipes

Over the weekend, I picked twenty pounds of apples at Johnny Appleseed's on Route 83 in Ellington CT.  I love apples and usually eat them plain but every so often I like to change up the flavor a bit.

Would I want to take a perfectly healthy apple and turn it into a high-calorie dessert?  Certainly not! But I do like fabulous low calorie apple treats that are really simple to make.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Apple Slices and Peanut Butter:  Cut the apple into 8 to 12 wedges and dip into peanut butter (preferably all natural).

Apple Slices and Cinnamon Sugar:  Instead of the peanut butter, mix up 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of sugar and dip the apples in that.

Just in case you don't think these are "recipes" and are really craving apple pie without the calories, you can always try this low-calorie baked apple streusel.

Baked Apple Streusel

Three apples (peeled or not) cut in thin slices and tossed with cinnamon sugar.  Put in buttered pie pan and cover with streusel topping.  Bake at 350 degrees until the top is browned and the apples are somewhat soft.

Streusel Topping:  1/2 cup of regular rolled oats, two tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, two teaspoons of butter, mixed together until crumbly.

Enjoy!

Apple Picking at Johnny Appleseed's in Ellington CT

My favorite time of year is here again--apple picking time!  Yesterday I went to Johnny Appleseed's on Route 83 in Ellington CT to pick apples.  They have been offering apple picking since the middle of August and will continue to offer apple picking through the end of October.

Yesterday, the apple varieties available for picking were MacIntosh, Jonamac, Gala, and Spartan.  Of course, you can eat them while you pick so you can make sure you pick the ones you like best.  After trying all the varieties available, I decided that the Spartans were the best for me, and I picked 20 pounds of them!  I found one tree that was loaded with apples and picked all 20 pounds from one tree!  It took probably less than five minutes. Easy!

Some of my favoriate varieties, like Macoun, Cortland, and Empire, will be available later in the year.  Weather permitting, Johnny Appleseed's is open for picking every day of the week during the fall from 9:00 to 5:00 (summer hours are 9:00 to 1:00).  Check to make sure they are open and find out what varieties are available for picking by calling 860-875-1000.

On weekends, Johnny Appleseed's offers free tractor rides to picking locations, although most are within walking distance if you don't want to wait for the tractor.  Also beginning soon will be pumpkin picking!  Johnny Appleseed's also has pick-your-own peaches as well as several farm stands.  Check out Johnny Appleseed's for locations, times, and available products.

Happy apple picking! 

The Year in Review ~ Median Home Prices in 2010 in Ellington CT

The real estate activity in Ellington CT certainly showed many ups and downs when looked at month by month. However, the year as a whole was virtually unchanged from 2009. In 2010, there were 115 closed sales compared to 116 closed sales in 2009. In 2010, the median price was $286,000 compared to a median price of $288,000 in 2009.

Here are the month-by-month closed sales in Ellington CT:

The huge spike in June most likely was the result of the deadline on the homebuyers' tax credit, as we have seen in other towns as well. Here are the median prices by month for Ellington CT:

Median homes prices by month ranged from a low of $239,350 to a high of $384,950, but for the year, the median price was $286,000.  Ellington remains a vibrant market in terms of stability, closed sales, and median prices. Another positive sign is that median days on market (DOM) decreased in 2010 to 37 days compared to 44 days on market in 2009.

I have been reporting on market statistics for larger towns like Manchester, East Hartford, Vernon, and South Windsor.  In comparison to those towns, Ellington's housing market may seem less active; however, the population of Ellington is about 15,000 (by recent estimates; the new census will provide more accurate information). 

Another factor that seems to have influenced housing activity is the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit.  In markets that have lower-priced inventory, which most first-time buyers will find easier to qualify for, we saw that the tax credit made an impact.  Ellington doesn't have as many homes in those price ranges, so it limits the numbers of buyers.

According to the town's website, Ellington is conveniently located 15 minutes from Hartford.   Ellington, which was incorporated in 1786, has an agricultural heritage and still has 3,000 acres dedicated to agriculture, making it one of the largest production areas in the state.  Ellington draws people to it for its rural nature, but there are plenty of suburban amenities, town services, housing, and space to attract people. 

In October 2009, there were 11 closed sales with a median price of $340,000 compared with 12 closed sales and a median price of $252,500 in October 2008.

In November 2009, there were 10 closed sales with a median price of $266,500 compared with 11 closed sales and a median price of $294,000 in November 2008.

In December 2009, there were 10 closed sales with a median price of $369,425 compared with 8 closed sales and a median price of $290,450 in December 2008.

Here's the breakdown by price range:

If you are interested in purchasing a home in Ellington, CT, there are currently 79 homes on the market including new construction.  Of those, 45 are over $400,000 and 34 are under $400,000.

If you would like more information about homes in Ellington, CT, please contact me.